World in Brief | TAJIKISTAN

At least 16 killed in avalanche

An avalanche killed at least 16 people in the mountains of Tajikistan on Saturday while more people remained trapped, an Interior Ministry official said. The avalanche occurred after several days of heavy snowfall and hit a road that connects the Central Asian state's capital, Dushanbe, with the city of Khujand.

"Our report from the site says 16 bodies have been dug out," the official said. Mountains occupy 93% of Tajikistan's territory.